Henry Clay (1777-1852)

Henry Clay was an American statesman known as "The Great Compromiser." Clay was a congressman, senator, speaker of the house, and secretary of state. He was a major promoter of the Missouri Compromise in 1820, the compromise tariff of 1833 that ended the Nullification crisis, and the Compromise of 1850, all efforts to balance the rights of free and slave states. He was twice the unsuccessful Whig candidate for president.